Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Kristin Brandner-UW - Primary
    October 8
  • Scott Hanson
    October 12
  • Chris Guse
    October 18
  • Bob Johnson
    October 20
  • Joe Miller
    October 23
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Shelley Vanderkin
    October 1
  • Jean Britton
    October 3
  • Rick Tighe
    October 18
  • Tracey
    October 28
Anniversaries:
  • Gary Britton
    Jean Britton
    October 16
  • Ryan Hetzel
    Allison
    October 22
  • Aaron Ruplinger
    Cassie Ruplinger
    October 26
Join Date:
  • Mike Fleischman
    October 1, 2006
    18 years
  • Ralph Schlass
    October 1, 2022
    2 years
  • Aaron Ruplinger
    October 15, 2019
    5 years
WELCOME!
Welcome to the West Bend Sunrise Rotary Club!
West Bend Sunrise

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Tuesdays at 7:15 AM
Skinny Vic's
804 W Paradise Dr
West Bend, WI 53095
United States of America
Home Page Stories
 

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

2024-25 Rotary Leadership

Stephanie Urchick - President, Rotary International
Peter Bosch - District Governor, District 6270
John Knoll - President, West Bend Sunrise Rotary
 
DATEGREETERSPEAKER HOSTSPEAKER GUESTTOPIC/ORGANIZATION
10/1Seiser, Mary BethN/AIn Service MeetingRotary trip - Bosnia - Zenica
10/8Schotzko, KatelynRoell, Travis  
10/15Schmidt, AaronRudnitski, JoanPaul De ChantWCCF
10/22Schlass, RalphRuplinger, AaronCindy MacDonald and Amber DeRuyterWest Bend Community Memorial Library
11/5Sacks, AmandaN/AIn Service 
11/12Sacks, JonSchatz, Chris  
11/19Ruplinger, AaronRettler, Jack  
11/26Rudnitzki, JoanSchloemer, Jamie  
     
 
In July, we were fortunate to welcome two new corporate memberships to our club. On July 16th, we inducted and welcomed Kristen Brandner and Katelyn Schotzko, both of United Way of Washington County as our corporate members. 
Then on July 30th, we welcomed the Kettle Moraine YMCA team of Rob Johnson, Jim Jahnke, Jennifer Kelly, and Aaron Schmidt. 
We are excited to have all of these new members as part of our club, and are looking forward to everything they will able to do for our club in the future!
The club inducted three new members on Tue 6/18, bringing our total membership to 70! A big Rotary welcome to Chris Schatz, Melissa Fraedrich-Serdan, and Carrie Baumann. Chris is Dean of Health and Human Services at Moraine Park Technical College, Melissa is a licensed Medicare agent with Humana, and Carrie is the owner of Baumann Tax and Business Services.
In May, West Bend Sunrise Rotary welcomed new members Curt Pitzen and Jess Wildes. Curt works in commercial real estate, and Jess is West Bend’s Assistant City Administrator
 
 
Back in April, the club also welcomed Gary Loop (4/2/24) and Lynn Nowak (4/9/24) as our newest members to the West Bend Sunrise Rotary Club. Lynn is a psychotherapist at Midwest Wellness, and Gary is a Business Strategy Consultant based out of West Bend. Welcome to the club!
Our club is so proud to help support the new nature playground that is going to be built at the Lac Lawrann Conservancy. This $50,000 donation will help to build the amphitheater and agility area that are planned for the playground. Should be a wonderful addition to our community!
 
On Saturday, April 13, the club had two service projects going at the same time. One group of volunteers cleaned up the section of county highway our club sponsors (East side of Hwy 45 between Paradise & Washington) and cleans at least twice a year, and another group built a permanent 9 Square in the air at the Villa Park neighborhood park as part of our current District Grant project in partnership with the West Bend Noon Rotary club.
 
What a beautiful day for both of these projects! Thanks to our energetic Rotarians who got the job done.
 
 
On Tue April 2, 2024, Club Member Jeff Szukalski presented Kevin Steiner - recently retired CEO of West Bend Insurance Company - with Rotary’s Paul Harris Award in recognition of all that Kevin has done in service of the community of West Bend. Congratulations and deep thanks from all of us! Your actions have really made a difference!
 
On April 9, the club welcomed our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Joe Miller! Mary Beth Seiser presented Joe with his pin today in recognition of his donations to the Rotary Foundation. 
 
In February, Charity Week at the West Bend High Schools was held again, and we proudly participated again. This year we donated $1,000 to The Threshold, Inc.
Along with Steiner Electric and the money raised by students and staff, a total of $5,000 was donated to the Threshold!!
 
West Bend Sunrise Rotary Club continues to add to our membership group.
In December, we welcomed Lisa Gilmore from Interfaith Caregivers of Washington County, and this January, Melanie Gonring with Lakeshore Community Health Care joined the club.
 
 
Our club’s own Mary Beth Seiser was honored at the Foundation dinner for achieving Rotary Triple Crown status for being a Major Donor, a member of the Bequest Society and a member of the Paul Harris Society. Mary Beth, your generosity and dedication are an inspiration to all of us. Congratulations!
 
 
The West Bend Sunrise Rotary Club recently gave Vicki Lehnerz, owner of Skinny Vic’s Diner & Coffee Stop, a Paul Harris Fellow Award.
The award, named after Rotary founder Paul Harris, is given to those who donate, or have donations given in their name, a collective $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self,” and Vicki exemplifies that in how she operates her restaurant, and through her contributions to the community.
Members of the West Bend Sunrise Rotary felt that Vicki was deserving of this recognition because she has offered fundraising programs to non-profits through her restaurant, supported local causes such as chili suppers at churches and the Kiwanis Duck Derby at Regner Park, and because she provides a place for the West Bend Sunrise Rotary club to meet each Tuesday morning.
 
Congratulations Vicki!
 
This past Tuesday October 3rd, we inducted Joan Rudnitzki into the West Bend Sunrise Rotary Club. We are so happy to have you Joan!
Pictured alongside Joan is her membership sponsor, Gary Britton, and current West Bend Sunrise Rotary President Jon Corbett.
 
Congratulations to club member Jeff Szukalski on being awarded the Clifford A. & Elizabeth M. Nelson Volunteer Leadership Award of 2023 by the United Way of Washington County. He is pictured here with Kevin Steiner who received the Emerging Leader Award. Follow this link to read the article from the Washington County Daily News:
 
Recently, Sunrise Rotary welcomed our newest members Jeff Eagen and Dr. Elliot Shambeau. Jeff is the Kettle Country District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America, and Dr. Elliot Shambeau recently joined the Gentle Dental Emporium as their newest dentist. Glad to have you join our club and do good in our community!
 
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